Modern dentistry provides many tools, products, and procedures that can effectively restore a damaged tooth and preserve your oral health.
But not everyone is so lucky. Some damage can be so severe that the only viable solution is a tooth extraction. If your dentist recently told you one of your permanent teeth needs to come out, here’s a short overview of the healing process to know what to expect:
Tooth extractions are done under local anesthesia or even dental sedation to ensure you are perfectly comfortable during the surgery. As a result, you will likely not feel any discomfort when you leave the dentist’s office. This will change once the effects of the anesthetic wear off, and you may start to experience:
But, this is perfectly normal.
After a tooth is pulled out, a blood clot forms in that socket to protect all the tissues, nerves, and bones from exposure. It’s very important to be mindful of this clot and not dislodge it by accident. Otherwise, you may develop something called dry socket, a very painful post-op complication.
To prevent it, you will need to:
After the first day, you’ll likely still experience some pain, bleeding, and minor swelling. You can take OTC pain medication like Ibuprofen to relieve your discomfort, but avoid aspirin or other blood thinners to prevent bleeding.
Your body will continue to heal, but you still need to protect the blood clot, so continue to be mindful when eating and brushing your teeth.
By this point, you should notice an improvement in your symptoms. The extraction site may still feel a bit tender and even swollen, but the tissue will begin to close around the socket.
The blood clot is still at risk of dislodging even at this point. The golden rule is to be careful with it until you notice the gums have completely covered it.
In most cases, healing after a tooth extraction is complete in about 7-10 days after the procedure, but every patient is different.
Also, if your extraction was a bit more complicated, like in the case of an impacted wisdom tooth, you may be looking at a longer healing period.
If you have a badly damaged tooth that might need to be extracted, Dr. Amanda Burke is here to help you access compassionate and expert dental care designed to help you restore your oral health.
Book a consultation at Burke Dental Group online, and stop by to unlock your path toward a healthy smile!